Tahoe golf tip: Inspect your equipment during the early season

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EDITOR’S NOTE: “Tip of the week” is a periodic feature running in the North Lake Tahoe Bonanza, in partnership with the Incline Village General Improvement District, providing locals with various tips pertaining to the recreation opportunities the district provides.

The first and most important thing you should do early on this golf season is inspect your golf equipment.

This inspection will make your first rounds at the course a little smoother and may lead to you shooting lower scores. Here are a couple of easy but important things to look for:

Spikes

The frequency that you should change your spikes depends on how many rounds you play.

For avid golfers (20-30 rounds a year), I suggest changing your spikes once a year. Having a spike with adequate tread will help you keep your balance while swinging.

Also, worn spikes can be a safety issue when walking up and down the damp hills we have here in Incline. Re-spiking service is available at the Championship Golf Course Pro Shop.

Grips

Maintaining grips is one of the least expensive things a golfer can do to help them shoot lower scores.

A dry and worn grip will cause you to grip the club tightly and will prevent you from making a full release of the hands and wrists.

Not releasing the club head can lead to the dreaded banana ball as the clubface will come into the impact area open. I suggest changing all your grips once per year and your wedges twice per year.

If you put your hands on the grip and it feels smooth, slick or shiny, it is definitely time for new grips. The staff at the Championship Course is trained on changing grips and has a selection of different grip types to choose from.

I hope these easy and inexpensive tips will help you get off to a great start this golf season.

Charlie Kent is director of golf operations for the Golf Courses at Incline Village.